PHOENIX - We have an incredible story to tell you about a woman who is saving thousands of lives every year, even though she herself died nearly 60 years ago.

Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman who was treated for and died of cervical cancer in 1951. Scientists discovered her cancer cells tested, had the amazing ability to not only survive in a petri dish, but thrive there. Those cells, now called HeLa cells, have multiplied billions of times and are being sold to laboratories all over the world to help researchers in their work to find cures to dozens of diseases.

The problem is, her family never knew about any of this until long after her death. Watch the video above to hear her story and learn what happens next.

Today, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, written by Rebecca Skloot, is a New York Times best-seller. It is a also an enormously popular choice for book clubs and classrooms around the world.

PHOENIX - We have an incredible story to tell you about a woman who is saving thousands of lives every year, even though she herself died nearly 60 years ago.

Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman who was treated for and died of cervical cancer in 1951. Scientists discovered her cancer cells tested, had the amazing ability to not only survive in a petri dish, but thrive there. Those cells, now called HeLa cells, have multiplied billions of times and are being sold to laboratories all over the world to help researchers in their work to find cures to dozens of diseases.

The problem is, her family never knew about any of this until long after her death. Watch the video above to hear her story and learn what happens next.

Today, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, written by Rebecca Skloot, is a New York Times best-seller. It is a also an enormously popular choice for book clubs and classrooms around the world.

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